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Cortlandt Community Mourns Death Of Lone Westchester Derailment Victim

CORTLANDT, N.Y. -- Montrose resident James Ferrari was simply headed to work on Sunday before a derailed train took his life.

The 59-year old was one of four victims, and the lone Westchester County victim, who was killed when a Metro-North passenger train derailed in the Bronx near the Spuyten Duyvil station early Sunday. According to the New York Fire Department, 63 people were injured.

Ferrari worked in midtown Manhattan on 53rd Street in commercial building maintenance, according to published reports. Ferrari had worked at that job for 10 years, according to the Wall Street Journal.

He is survived by his wife, Francine, and his daughter, Rebecca. Rebecca is a graduate of Hendrick Hudson High School and in her second year of college at Westchester Community College, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Cortlandt Supervisor Linda Puglisi said it was a very sad day in Cortlandt.

"It's very tragic," Puglisi said. "I am just in shock."

Puglisi said she intends to reach out to the family and see what she can do to help. The supervisor said Cortlandt was a wonderful community that would come together to offer support for the Ferraris.

"We have 42,000 wonderful people in this town," Puglisi said.  "Everybody will rally around to see what they can do and give love to a family that has lost a loved one, a husband and a father. It's a very tragic day."

Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, who represented Ferrari and another victim, Cold Spring resident John Lovell, said the derailment has left everyone reeling.

"My heart goes out to the victims and their families of this horrible accident," Galef said. "Unfortunately, I am sure that in addition to the two lives lost in my district, the names of others injured will soon be reported who are our neighbors and friends as well."

Legislator Catherine Borgia, who represents Ferrari, expressed her sympathy to the Ferrari family.

"My deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr Ferrari, who was a dedicated and hard-working family man and will be deeply missed," Borgia said. "It is imperative that we put safety measures in place to mitigate the human and mechanical errors that lead to this tragedy."

 

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